I used to live in the Gainesville District. In recent times, I am not so sure what district I live in. I have not moved.
Last night, my supervisor held an electronic town hall meeting. I like the concept of the electronic town hall meeting. I enjoyed the last one. Last night, not so much. All I heard were talking points from a local blog. I was disappointed. I pretty much heard affirmation of an uncooperative board of supervisors and an irresponsible school board. I don’t believe either of these bodies are irresponsible. Furthermore, the school board is not made up of members of society from a lesser god. They are duly elected officers of the county, the same as the board of supervisor members.
I wanted to ask a question but I figured I wouldn’t get through to my supervisor. It wouldn’t have been well-received, I don’t think.
The question I would have asked is the following:
If I contacted the supervisor’s office or the county over something that irritated the supervisor, would he post my inquiry on his website, thus opening me up for ridicule and vicious attacks from local bloggers and contributors?
Frankly, I already wouldn’t email any public official over anything I wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the Washington Post. I know that the written word can be subject to any FOIA request. However, I sure don’t expect the supervisor to post my inquiries on his or her website.
I hope I don’t ever have to call my supervisor. I simply don’t trust the situation, now. That’s a damn shame also. What assurances do I have that an example won’t be made of me? I certainly am not a shrinking violet and have let it be known if I am displeased.
If I had a serious problem I would just call one of the other 7 who have been demonized on any given day if I need something.
C’mon Moon–there is no bogeyman or bugbear in the closet or under the bed. You’ve watched, “Monsters Inc.” too many times. You have written tens of thousands of words for public consumption and yet you feel like you couldn’t ask a question in an electronic townhall for fear of some kind of public pillaring? You have to be joking. Right? Right? You are letting the Sheriff, and perhaps Supervisor Pete Candland, get under your skin. As to the irresponsibility of the two bodies you refer to, well that might the topic for another discussion. There seems to be some body of evidence that says they ain’t all they’re cracked up to be–particularly the BOCS.
You misunderstand me, George. In a town hall meeting before the speaker (regardless of whom) is on the line, you have to give the staff an idea what you are going to ask about or address.
I doubt I would have gotten through if I had said and I won’t lie for political advantage.
No one is “under my skin” unless you consider strong disapproval of some tactics and rhetoric being ” under my skin.”
I may approve or disapprove of what governing bodies do. That doesn’t mean I consider everyone in the group irresponsible.
My question remains, what assurances do I have that won’t have my questions or inquiries posted. I think that is a fair question.
I would be more worried about the office staff. There is one individual that I will avoid at all costs.
Well, if he ain’t under your skin, why is this the second post?
Funny that you assume someone is under MY skin. Perhaps I am under someone else’s skin.
As a blogger, that is generally the way it works.
Not mine.
Good! I am glad I am not under your skin, George.
Most politicians don’t like negative attention on blogs. That was my only intent.
I actually like the idea of the electronic town hall meeting. I didn’t think that the one the other night was representative of the district. I had heard most of the talking points from blogs …the ones that the callers were talking about.
One that had not been beaten about on blogs was over all the building near laws auction that is causing lots of traffic on route 28. I hope to hear more about that issue in upcoming weeks. I am wondering if Mr. Candland had Mr. Stewart put that issue on the agenda to discuss.
I wouldn’t mind hearing more about in-town issues. We still have standing water on streets in Westgate. There are still irresponsible rental property owners. The traffic is still horrible on my street during soccer and baseball season. I still don’t get mosquito sprayed because the county has some rule abou the speed limit of the bug truck. This list goes on…..
Or let’s say the BURRIED fire hydrant that had to be dug out on our block at 2am when I house caught on fire. You should try getting down the 9700 block of King George the house at 03 dug their car out and made a glacier in the middle of the road. Two cars can NOT pass there, and safety equipment would be very hard pressed to get down the road there.
Moon, you can always contact our Chairman at large. 👿
Lafayette, we could make a long, long list of problems here in our joint neighborhoods.
How about those street lights in Sudley. LOL Dark as a Dungeon.
How about your above ground wires? What would it cost to bury those bad boys?
I heard nothing about hose issues. It was all a repeat of what I read on the blogs which tells me that there was a certain constituency calling in for the most part.
I saw standing water at the corner of Woodstock and King George a while ago. Bet its still there. Inadequate drainage.
The Chairman….hmmmmmmmm….he seems to be on the right track these days. Do you think he can light up Sudley?
Have been wondering why they decided on the development near the old Laws place, which needs a good insurance fire. Route 28 was out of date when it was updated several years ago. Since you live in town, isn’t the town responsible for snow clearing, drainage, etc?
George, eek Yorkshire is now Marty’s problem. It had ALWAYS been in the Brentsville District, until last redistricting. It’s like any other place in the county VDOT needs to clear the snow and the good ole PWCSA is in charge of drainage. I can tell you there are two corners in my neighborhood that have standing water and you can’t see the corner on a regular basis when it rains hard and/or heavy. It’s been that way my entire life, and I seriously doubt it will ever change. I have plenty of pictures of the lakes that arise in WestGate.
That new development is going to create a lot of traffic and major needs for seats for kiddos in our schools.
Call big John Jenkins for help. Maybe he’ll adopt the “working class” area of the Gainesville/Nottingham District. It deserves equal attention.
John Jenkins really is great about helping those outside. His district. So is Marty Nohe.
@Wendy
John J has helped this life long Gainesville district resident on numerous occasions. I guess the working class WestGaters should have gone to Coles. Of course, and 8th in-town district would have been ideal, but…
Ya’ll really need some representation. Jenkins and Caddigan have done a good job addressing diverse communities within their districts.
This really gets at the issue of what a supervisor does. I think certain Supervisors, and Jenkins is a good example, are great at taking care of their district on a local level, i.e. taking care of problems, knowing what’s going on locally. Others seem more interested in high-level issues and their own agendas. Ultimately, people want a county that functions well, and is safe and pleasant to live in. The things right outside their front door matter and they need someone to go to for help.
I agree, Watching. Mr. Jenkins not only is good at knowing what’s going on in his district, he is more than willing to help with problems in other districts. One big county rather than little fiefdoms.
The politics going on in this county the past year or so make me want to hurl.